Sphenacodon

Taxobox
name = "Sphenacodon"
fossil_range = Early Permian

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = Pair of "Sphenacodon".
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Pelycosauria
familia = Sphenacodontidae
genus = "Sphenacodon"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "Sphenacodon britannicus" (Huene, 1908)
* "Sphenacodon ferox" Marsh, 1878
* "Sphenacodon ferocior" Romer, 1937

"Sphenacodon" was a pelycosaur that was 10 feet in length. As it name suggests, "Sphenacodon" belongs to the family Sphenacodontidae, a lineage that was related to Therapsids. Sphenacodon's vertebral spines were long, and probably acted as attachment points for massive back muscles, allowing the animal to lunge powerfully at its prey. Though the spines were long, it did not have a sail like "Dimetrodon". However, it was closely related to "Dimetrodon molcocus" and other sphenacodontids. "Sphenacodon" lived in Early Permian in the North American region, more specifically, in Texas and New Mexico

Gallery

ee also

* Dimetrodon
* Edaphosaurus
* Haptodus